30/09/2022
Copied and pasted from one of the groups I participate in. Condolences to the family and work colleagues. Lest we forget.....
Hendrik Hoffmann ·
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Dear Members,
Today, as a founding member of this group, having read and participated in tens of thousands of posts about this, our industry, I come to you with a very heavy heart.
Yesterday, one of our colleagues, a managing agent in our industry, tragically took her own life while at her workplace. We are all quite traumatized by this event, as well as the situation she faced leading up to her decision to do this.
This has made me realize that many stakeholders in this industry very often do not understand what we, as managing agents, experience daily, with or without a smile. Years ago, one of my clients, a trustee, became a managing agent, and it changed their entire outlook on managing agents and their appreciation for what we do in and for our industry.
Although many of us as managing agents love what we do, and meet and deal with the most amazing people on earth, there is the flip side of the coin. Not a day goes by, where someone would not argue, scream, fight, verbally abuse or threaten their portfolio manager, assistant, or support team. In many instances, it is not because of anything that the managing agent has done, or often, can do anything about.
I reach out to you today, and really want to appeal to all members of this wonderful group to consider the following:
1. A simple “thank you” goes a long way;
2. If you get worked up about something, count to 10 before emailing or picking up the phone, and if that doesn’t help, please apologize afterwards;
3. It is human nature to go the extra mile when people are courteous rather than aggressive to you;
4. Even managing agents have bad days personally and professionally;
5. Nobody is perfect;
6. Even if your managing agent is not giving you or your scheme the service you expect, remain professional, and not personal. Managing agents are professionals, just like you, being a managing agent is their profession, not just their job. Change managing agents if you feel you need to, there are many managing agents in the industry but remain professional at all times.
I am sure that I speak for all managing agents when I say that we truly do our best to assist where and if we can. All I am asking is that we respect each other, irrespective of who we are and which side we are perceived to be on.
In these difficult times in all aspects of what we do, let’s choose to work together, and bring about the change that we all desire.
Please take care of yourselves!
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